What the **** is with the questioning of Kuznetsov's character? Seriously?

"You turned down my team, you must be a ********!"

In what world is deciding to play in your hometown near your family (new wife included) and friends a poor display of character? How is deciding to help represent your country when it hosts the Olympic games a negative character trait?

Sorry should've specified what I meant by character......I have no issue with Kuz wanting to stay home or play for Russia in the Olympics but you have to be impressed with Galiev and how he came over to play for the USHL and then to the Q.....that's what I was referring to.

I dont think he ever comes over. Its not just hunter who runs a defensive style,couple that with all the other hometown advantages and money and I just think he wont want to work for it. Im looking at Radulov and am not all that impressed..hes got some goals sure...mainly rebounds and such all while hes breaking curfew with the preds. Not all russians but many are still looking to party too much.

I have no issue with Kuz wanting to stay home or play for Russia in the Olympics but you have to be impressed with Galiev and how he came over to play for the USHL and then to the Q.....that's what I was referring to.

I think you're forgetting that Kuznetsov became a KHL regular at 17. Should've he gone to the NA instead?
Where was Galiev evеn playing before USHL?

I wonder if theres a possibility hes being told the NHL is gonna scheme against Russia and not let him play in Sochi, even though I think the GMs were pretty happy with the Olympics and so were players.

Its not too far fetched considering he has a Russian and American agent, the Russian agent would probably lie to keep getting commissions from him. Add in the language barrier... Hopefully Ovi some how gets him to delay...

His Wife and family were the main reasons. It's too bad for NHL fans because he would have brought alot of excitement to the Caps, but can't blame the guy for staying in his culture and environment that he is acustomed.

That's due to talent....I'm referring to Galiev coming over to a foreign country at 16 so he could better prepare himself for the NHL

And I repeat my question. Is playing in the USHL->QMJHL a better preparation for the NHL or anything else than playing in the 2nd best professional league in the world? I don't think that there's a lot of things to admire. He chose a path he considered better and easier, Kuznetsov did the same. What exactly are you that impressed with? No offense, I just don't like when guys say that coming to NA is a display of great courage while staying in Russia is some bounty islands.

And I repeat my question. Is playing in the USHL->QMJHL a better preparation for the NHL or anything else than playing in the 2nd best professional league in the world? I don't think that there's a lot of things to admire. He chose a path he considered better and easier, Kuznetsov did the same. What exactly are you that impressed with? No offense, I just don't like when guys say that coming to NA is a display of great courage while staying in Russia is some bounty islands.

Icetime? KHL teams are there to win games, not develop kids for the NHL.

Galievs development was improved due to him playing big minutes in crucial situations. If he could get those same minutes in the KHL then that would be fine to, but he couldn't.

IMO if a Russian player can get big minutes in the KHL then that is an advantage because he is competing against better competition than NA junior leagues. Even if Kuz stays in Russia for the full 2 years I'm not worried at all about his development. When the time comes and he decides to come over he will be ready.

In addition to icetime (as already mentioned), there's the cultural/language adaptation as well. Plus the smaller ice, although I won't pretend the Q is particularly similar to NHL-style hockey, compared to some of the alternatives.

The purpose of the USHL is to give the kids who want to play college a place to play at a fairly high level without losing their eligibility. If it is only about playing in the NHL then the USHL kids are not playing there they are playing in the CHL.

And anyone choosing to play in the CHL instead of the KHL is simply making a trade off of playing against lesser competition to get used to the smaller ice surface and NA culture. Making the blanket statement that one is better than the other is ridiculous.

Icetime? KHL teams are there to win games, not develop kids for the NHL.

Galievs development was improved due to him playing big minutes in crucial situations. If he could get those same minutes in the KHL then that would be fine to, but he couldn't.

IMO if a Russian player can get big minutes in the KHL then that is an advantage because he is competing against better competition than NA junior leagues. Even if Kuz stays in Russia for the full 2 years I'm not worried at all about his development. When the time comes and he decides to come over he will be ready.

As a Caps fan though it totally sucks.

And that is fine for Galiev but Kuznetsov was good enough to earn big minutes as a young player in the KHL so ice time clearly wasn't an issue for him.

Again my issue is with the blanket statement that coming to NA is the better way because that isn't necessarily true.

In addition to icetime (as already mentioned), there's the cultural/language adaptation as well. Plus the smaller ice, although I won't pretend the Q is particularly similar to NHL-style hockey, compared to some of the alternatives.

So Ovechkin was great as a rookie but just think of how much greater he would have been if he had spent the year before in the Q instead? I don't buy that...

And I repeat my question. Is playing in the USHL->QMJHL a better preparation for the NHL or anything else than playing in the 2nd best professional league in the world? I don't think that there's a lot of things to admire. He chose a path he considered better and easier, Kuznetsov did the same. What exactly are you that impressed with? No offense, I just don't like when guys say that coming to NA is a display of great courage while staying in Russia is some bounty islands.

no offense taken, Im enjoying the debate.......I think it does take a lot of courage and character to come to NA at 16 as it would if a NA player would head to Russia at 16 to play.

So Ovechkin was great as a rookie but just think of how much greater he would have been if he had spent the year before in the Q instead? I don't buy that...

I didn't say it applied to every prospect, but it certainly diminishes the "Russian factor," which is also a much more serious consideration now than it was when Ovi was drafted.

I don't know what type of impact it would have had on Ovi, him living in the US or Canada for a year or two before jumping to the NHL. The hockey probably wouldn't have been as good, but the non-hockey might have been better.

I didn't say it applied to every prospect, but it certainly diminishes the "Russian factor," which is also a much more serious consideration now than it was when Ovi was drafted.

I don't know what type of impact it would have had on Ovi, him living in the US or Canada for a year or two before jumping to the NHL. The hockey probably wouldn't have been as good, but the non-hockey might have been better.

What is this supposed to mean? Living in NA for 2 years would wash some "Russianess" off of him?

Would he have signed for 3 mil cheaper and starting training with Gary Roberts in the offseason?